I say it is time to Protest.

[eric]

Florida OHV Recreation Management Workshop
May 1- 4, 2006
Hilton-Ocala
Ocala, Florida

Registration is required and limited to 100. Registration packets will be available in February, 2006.

http://www.fl-dof.com/calendar/2006_ohv_may_wkshop.html

[americanhighlander]

(copy and paste....add to if you want?)

     Gov. Bush,
  Thank you for your time
  I am a member of an on-line all terrain vehicle group named ATV Florida (www.atvflorida.com).  We are a many faceted group of people, both young and old...affluent and no so.
  We represent all terrain vehicle riders throughout Florida and we take our sport seriously. 
  Florida has recently been ranked fourth (4th) in the United States in ATV sales and as a member of ATV Florida, I am concerned with the available land on which to ride and enjoy.
   I send this e-mail to you, hoping to encourage your help in aquiring more land in Florida for ATVrs to ride legally. I feel this can be done with little or no impact to sensitive areas.
  ATVrs are a diverse group, and we want to ask for your help moving our sport forward.
  Thank you.



Send that or something similar to

jeb.bush@myflorida.com

(or call area code 850-488-7146)

       Chuck

I did put my name and i put name city i'm from.Thats one of nearest
town i live near by.

Hey, I got email from jeb bush today.

here's what it says.

Governor Bush has received your e-mail and has asked me to respond on his behalf.



To better assist you with this concern, I am forwarding your correspondence to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Bronson for review and response.  You should hear from someone in his office.



Thank you for writing and do not hesitate to write again on matters of concern or interest to you.



Sincerely,



Rex T. Newman

Citizens' Services

[themensh]

>>Hey, I got email from jeb bush today.<<



    Now imagine........a thousand e-mails going there!!!!  Heck.....this group could easily send 2ooo!  You think someone would notice?
   And if we all do it ("you all" because I already do) every other week or so
someone up-high might say "Lets get them some land to ride on."
   Thanks for sending that, Rex(and you too Highlander. LOL).....don't stop now! 

    Chuck

[americanhighlander]

I hope all members on this site email jeb bush.Just remail them every 6months or less.

If any new atv members wanna join in this topic,Feel freely and talk about it.
And join in county meetings once month or talk about your atv riding rights.People shouldn't  be blame on atvriders and useing the cops as babysiter for people down on  dirt road making calls and  lies on telphone on atv riders that rides on dirt roads and other riding places
in the near future.


thanks,
amhighlander

[themensh]

After Highlander posted his reply he received....I got this one:
(So.....the chain of command seems to go from Gov Jeb Bush, down to commisioner Charles Bronson, then to the person who sent me this...
Chris Reed, OHV Coordinator)


   December 19, 2005



Dear Chuck,

    The Commissioner has asked me to respond to your email.  I appreciate you taking the time to express your concerns.  I assure you that the Division of Forestry (DOF) is doing everything in its power to increase the number of legal riding opportunities for OHVs on public lands in a sustainable and responsible manner.  Additionally, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Governor, and Legislature are well aware that OHV operation has become increasingly popular as an outdoor recreational activity and is in fact, one of the fastest growing recreational activities in the country.  They also realize that there are limited sites available on public lands here in the state of Florida.  This need was the basis for the T. Mark Schmidt OHV Safety and Recreation Act being passed in 2002 (Chapter 261, Florida Statutes). 

    We understand your frustration and the DOF is working diligently to provide further OHV opportunities in the state.  Our agency has been working with federal, state, county, and other municipal entities to try and provide these opportunities.  The DOF is also working internally to designate OHV areas on State Forest lands where appropriate.  In fact, the division recently opened the first new OHV area on public lands since the inception of the OHV Safety and Recreation Act.  This new OHV trail system contains approximately 150 miles of designated trails on Tate's Hell State Forest in Franklin County.  Additionally, the Suwannee River Water Management District has designated 38 miles of trails for ATV recreation, on a seasonal basis, on its Mallory Swamp unit in Lafayette County.   

   To better promote the OHV program and the DOF's efforts to other governmental entities, the DOF is cosponsoring an OHV recreation workshop through the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council in May 2006.  The goal of this workshop is to conduct an educational forum on off-highway vehicle recreation management for local, county, state and federal land management decision makers, recreation planners, resource specialists, and leadership representatives from OHV recreation and other stakeholder communities.  We anticipate that this workshop will help to further break down barriers and ultimately result in increased opportunities.

   To assist in increasing the quality and quantity of OHV recreational areas and trails, the DOF is administering the OHV Safety and Recreation Grant Program.  This program, paid for by your titling fees, recently completed its second round of grant awards.  In all, approximately $650,000 has been allocated to nine projects.  These projects are intended to: improve existing trails; provide new facilities, trails, or recreational areas; provide education and outreach to OHV users; provide equipment and staffing; and further the opportunities for OHV recreation in the state.  I have attached a summary of projects awarded funding through this year's funding cycle.  This document should provide a reasonable background of the types of projects being funded by our OHV Safety and Recreation Program.

  Finally, I realize that things are not happening as quickly as you and many other enthusiasts feel to be reasonable, but it is important that things are now happening.  In order to keep the public informed of changes in the OHV program and possible new recreation areas, we have a link on the Division of Forestry webpage, www.fl-dof.com.  Should you have future questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely,
   Chris Reed, OHV Coordinator
    Division of Forestry
   Reedj1@doacs.state.fl.us

[eric]

Btw guys you can send an email to Chris Reed @ reedj1@doacs.state.fl.us  He is the OHV coordinator and he will put you on his email list for any updates. Just email him something like this:


Dear Mr Reed,

Please place me on your email list for updates or information pertaining to off-road (atv) vehicle usage and land opening or closures.

Thank You

[needforspeed]

We should get as many people together at big scrub and protest. We should do this without the forest management knowing, but let all the local newspapers know. Somehow get Chris Reed there, and whatever other political forces we can, and have a peaceful demonstation, let them know how we feel, about the government taking away our land to ride.

[americanhighlander]

Look what happen in cape coral FL this week and they tooked another riding place way I saw post forum on here.We need send one of our members out there  in the area to get our web site posted on radio or blast it on your car radio tapes or cd's to repeat alot times and have the speakers on truck bed or car trunk and drive around neigborhoods and get the word out.

thanks,
amhighlander

Ps:I'm sorry about the bad riders tooked it away,and 40,000 people with dirtbikes,atvs,and I feel sorry for thoses
kid riders, and other riding people
and stuck for noting to ride their
atvs,dirtbikes and no place to go offroading no more. 

[americanhighlander]

Look what happen in cape coral FL this week and they tooked another riding place way I saw post forum on here.We need send one of our members out there  in the area to get our web site posted on radio or blast it on your car radio tapes or cd's to repeat alot times and have the speakers on truck bed or car trunk and drive around neigborhoods and get the word out.

thanks,
amhighlander

Ps:I'm sorry about the bad riders tooked it away,and 40,000 people with dirtbikes,atvs,and I feel sorry for thoses
kid riders, and other riding people
and stuck for noting to ride their
atvs,dirtbikes and no place to go offroading no more. 

It's sounds like alot good atvriders in the state of florida are having bad week to riding out in there good riding areas and it was last week they banned atvs riding on the alapha river bed in jasper.And We need do somthing soon before all good riding places goes up in smoke and no more people never ride atvs again .I guest They started more hornet nests out of the bottle :gh :F :gr :deal.gif
for last few weeks and this week so far.      

[needforspeed]

If the ATV's keep getting bad press, everywhere is going to close. I see Ocala National Forest closing in a couple of years. My guess is they will probably get the trail system going and within a year, you will be required to buy a sticker, and only so many stickers will be available. If that doesn't keep everyone on the trails, I see them closing the forest. It will probably be that simple.

[americanhighlander]

If the ATV's keep getting bad press, everywhere is going to close. I see Ocala National Forest closing in a couple of years. My guess is they will probably get the trail system going and within a year, you will be required to buy a sticker, and only so many stickers will be available. If that doesn't keep everyone on the trails, I see them closing the forest. It will probably be that simple.

I hope you get message out there to media and write books about it and
get word out, there to rap singers groups in miami night clubs out there.

And i know the last few months on atv shows they said repect your riding areas
and don't tear up trails to ruild it for us.

Have you people try get word out on cb radios.I use have base station long time ago down in south fla and hollywood area and my base station burn up back few years ago.They use to call me mr,weatherman.

Well Try channel 17 at during evening hours and late nights and they called it the redneck channel. And  i know channel 19 is all truck drivers channels all over usa.
So try that out...

thanks,
amhighlander

[americanhighlander]

;DTry to protest  on news stations  on  cnn and  fox news
and  try to  protest  on the  local  news stations  in tallahasee

channel 27 http://www.wtxl.com and  channel 6 http://www.wctv6.com/  and channel 49 http://www.fox49.com/

I do get these  channel under  my locals on my direct tv sat system .

contact numbers

WCTV
4000 County Road 12    this channel 6
Tallahassee, FL 32312
This where all email addresses at
http://www.wctv6.com/station/contact
850-893-6666



WTXL Channel 27/DT 22
8440 Deerlake S
Tallahassee, Fl 32312
Phone: (850)893-4140
Newsroom Fax: (850)668-1460


WTLH-TV
WFXU-TV/WTLF -DT     this channel 49
P.O. Box 949
Midway, Florida 32343
(850) 576-4990 FAX: (850) 576-0200




here's national news stations  this might get alots atvers alot people  come.  
http://www.foxnews.com/   http://www.cnn.com/

here's contact for cnn

you might have send  feedback email.

here's web site
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/



Well this stuff  i gave to  you  it should  help  you  out.And Pass  this  along for  you  atv clubs and your friends.So fight for your atv rights allow  riding. [smiley=EvilSmile.gif]


thanks,
amhighlander

Ps:I hope you guy-gals make  it   on dirtwheel magzine and I like some forums  sites  like  atvflorida.com,floridaatv.com,and northfloridaatv.org and atvoutdoors.net thoses are coolest  forums  topics  I read all time.

Well we need email the media stations all over in florida and out of state to tell do a research on atvs which is the good side of it and tell them how the  bad riders like ruin it for people and getting riding places closing down so quickly,and you should put it on abc 20/20.I saw news post on the cape coral Fl riding place.Those 3 atv riders that crash into that person house they should been charge to repair the house and no other  atv riders shouldn't be blame on one thing to cuase the whole screw up.It's like kid in a classroom that did somthing wrong and whole class hads to write 200times.Now you know what i'm saying about that.

I think you people should put a tv ad or send vhs tape to all news
stations all over florida and get our message out there.
I think that be good idea to do that.

[americanhighlander]

  hmm you should started a atvflorida.com newpaper or magzine
and have topics and storyies and classfields.And sell at bp
gas stations and s&s stores all over northern fla and even
at wine dixe food stores and even at walmarts.

And if you get money coming in and donate it to build more
backyard offroad riding parks and your own atvflorida.com land
to ride.And have people charge $ one year fee membership
or more years to enter your offroad riding parks
all over state of florida.It sounds
like very good ideal to me.    

If have better sugestions on here feel free talk about on here.

thanks,
amhighlander 

[needforspeed]

what we need to do is something good for the forest or croom, and get the media involved. When there is another clean up see if we can get the media involved. Maybe write your own story and send it to the papers.

if someone could get certified on the atv's to instruct, a good media attention would be to instruct the kids on proper riding techniques. the only thing on doing something like that is being sued if something happen to the person.

[themensh]

sorry, but this site is not organized enough to stage a
protest on a pimple on my butt.
  I don't think it is as simple as towing our quads to Tallahassee
...and saying to the media "duh, we want land ta ride."
  Most lawmakers are going to say "We never heard of your group
before. You should have let us know."
  If we do show up....we will be directed to park somewhere out of the way. 
  Someone (a flunky) will show up...ask us why we are there and take notes to pass to someone else.  The notes will get filed, we go home thinking something was done. 
   Before a protest is considered....we (not just ME) have to send letters, phone calls..e-mail to our representatives. Let them know we are here!
   Get names, find out who says they are on our side.....but to just all of a sudden show up in the Capital...nah.
   Need to be more organized.  We need goals. We have to have ideas and solutions.  Where will this land be?  Cost, etc.    Someone is going to ask us........and we will stand there.......saying "duh."
   We are not ready for a major media protest frenzy.
   Just my opinion.

[americanhighlander]

At least we can try get our ideas out there to protest.

There is gotta be another way keep our sport alive.

Keep posting on this topic and talk about some more ideas
we can do better.

[Thrumud]

Hey guys,  just want to put my 2 cents in this post....   I think all motorcycle dealerships should get involved.  Ask to speak to the owner and express your concerns regarding limited riding areas for OHV, getting their support will not only help, but give them some publicity.

Things we can do:  ( some ideas )

1. Contact your local dealer - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. for support
2. Clean ups ( notify the media where clean ups are held ) e-mail the editor, the same one that has bashed us in the past.
3. Fundraiser / Charity -  Example - Children's Hospital - Breat Cancer
4. Local club meetings once a month at dealerships,  Haul yourbike to the location ( don't ride it )
5. Share your concerns with other OHVs enthusiast like jeep clubs / buggies and meet together, they are on the same boat as us.
6. And most of all ...  stop talking about it, make the time to support your sport.  If you don't, then place your quad on ebay and quit the crying.


ANY IDEAS   I just moved from south Broward to Ft Myers and know about 60 ATV enthusiast that will stand behind all of us if we do something.   Lets do something this year !

[Thrumud]

 

[needforspeed]

Hey guys,  just want to put my 2 cents in this post....   I think all motorcycle dealerships should get involved.  Ask to speak to the owner and express your concerns regarding limited riding areas for OHV, getting their support will not only help, but give them some publicity.

Things we can do:  ( some ideas )

1. Contact your local dealer - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. for support
2. Clean ups ( notify the media where clean ups are held ) e-mail the editor, the same one that has bashed us in the past.
3. Fundraiser / Charity -  Example - Children's Hospital - Breat Cancer
4. Local club meetings once a month at dealerships,  Haul yourbike to the location ( don't ride it )
5. Share your concerns with other OHVs enthusiast like jeep clubs / buggies and meet together, they are on the same boat as us.
6. And most of all ...  stop talking about it, make the time to support your sport.  If you don't, then place your quad on ebay and quit the crying.


ANY IDEAS   I just moved from south Broward to Ft Myers and know about 60 ATV enthusiast that will stand behind all of us if we do something.   Lets do something this year !

If  this is true and there are about 60 people behind you willing to do something, we should start to organize a club, with bi-laws etc, and have a few people that will represent the club. Then get the dealers on your side, and do fund raisers, to raise money for the club, then send those people to various functions held by OHV florida to gather the information and voice ones opionion. A simple protest is going to give ATV's a bad name, especially if it gets out of hand. There is a club called friends of the forest, maybe friends of Off highway viechles.

[Thrumud]

Not a bad idea,   we need more input guys, don't let this thread desolve.   

[americanhighlander]

Hey guys,  just want to put my 2 cents in this post....   I think all motorcycle dealerships should get involved.  Ask to speak to the owner and express your concerns regarding limited riding areas for OHV, getting their support will not only help, but give them some publicity.

Things we can do:  ( some ideas )

1. Contact your local dealer - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, etc. for support
2. Clean ups ( notify the media where clean ups are held ) e-mail the editor, the same one that has bashed us in the past.
3. Fundraiser / Charity -  Example - Children's Hospital - Breat Cancer
4. Local club meetings once a month at dealerships,  Haul yourbike to the location ( don't ride it )
5. Share your concerns with other OHVs enthusiast like jeep clubs / buggies and meet together, they are on the same boat as us.
6. And most of all ...  stop talking about it, make the time to support your sport.  If you don't, then place your quad on ebay and quit the crying.


ANY IDEAS   I just moved from south Broward to Ft Myers and know about 60 ATV enthusiast that will stand behind all of us if we do something.   Lets do something this year !

I know he is right about that.

I make some  more print outs to hang on clip
boards.I know you have cassfelids on atvs here.
I try hang them out next month.

[needforspeed]

We have to be organized before anything or anyone will listen to us. Which means time to start thinking about bi-laws. Someone can probably talk to lisa or JW regarding there bi-laws, we may be able to copy theirs. Once the bi-laws of the club are established, think of a name for the club. You want to incorporate all members not just ATV members, maybe something like Friends of OHV of Florida, at that time there should at least be a president, whomever starts this should probably be president. Setup a bank account for the club, and start charging people to join. If you got 60 members behind you now and charge 5.00 per person to join that is 300.00 dollars right there. Someone can talk to anyone of the clubs around there area and see exactlywhat was involved with setting the club up. Now you are organized, the more people you recruit perhaps someone who has some polictal take, now start to make our voice heard.

Start planning how the club will earn money. Perhaps do two branches one North and one South. Use the internet to communicate, or telephone. Let the press know who you are, when you plan something that involves the public let them know that is important. Let all the dealers in the area know who you are, maybe charge 2.00 to lead a ride in ONF, post it on local dealers bulletin boards.

If the club gets enough extra money and the OHV of florida is xxxx amount of dollars short to buy another place to ride, the club can kick in some money. Now you are on good terms with everyone. This won't happen overnight, but it has been done before. Or make a donation to OHV Florida, or to the ONF for trail maintenacne, now you are on the good side of the forest and OHV Florida. Once you are on the good side, things may start to happen.

If you want to do a simple but quit protest, the best time to do it would be at the OHV meeting in May, you have everyone there, protest in front of the lobby with signs or whatever.

There is enough ATV people around there should be no problem getting started with a club.

[themensh]

Yikes........you may want to start another thread about 'forming' a REAL club!
     Bi-laws kind of suck! LOL.........
  1. who can join.
  2. who can disolve the 'club'.
  3. dues (what are the dues used for and who decides?)
  4....there are many more...............LOL
  I agree that we as ATV'rs should get on the 'good side' of people.
As a motorcyclist, I have participated in many 'poker runs' and rides for charity.  As a  new ATV'r I don't know is that is the case for us?
  I can picture a Ocala ride to raise money for certain charities  (who doesn't love a PUPPY.  Donate to your local animal shelter).....
How about a 'toy' ride to gather toys for children........for those with GPS', maybe a ride where only GPS co-ordinances are given. The rider must get to every co-ordinance to complete the 'ride'?  The cost?  A canned Ham or maybe four canned goods to donate to a food shelter.
    HEY! These are just ideas to get us together as a functioning group.
  I also agree that we should come together....by-laws may be a start, but I don't think ATVrs as a group, have the drive yet.
   Just my observation.

                       Chuck 

[americanhighlander]

  print out flyers with our web site
and go to your  local atv dealers and wait when people buy atvs
and hang them on cars,trucks on windwipers in parking lots
at walmarts.I have seen people do that all time when they hang church flyers on peoples cars.


So keep flighting your rights to ride.  

[americanhighlander]

  I think other offroad clubs or hunting clubs
should buy out more land all over state of florida
and turn them into atv riding parks for trailriders,dirt bikers,go karters,dune buggers,even turn them for hunters love to hunt and trail ride
in there own atv backyard parks.

Well people who have  private clubs
should make donate money and buy out more land
all over state of florida and charge people a membership to join
or have them paid them at main gate.And some of money should going
into main trails and make more new trails or build more atv riding parks
in the near future.

thanks,
amhiglander